South Korean researchers led by Lee In-suk of Yonsei University have reported the most complete oral microbiome catalog to date, with more than 72,000 genomes. Detailed in Cell Host & Microbe on Nov. 12, 2025, the database is expected to serve as a universal platform for academia and enable “precision microbiome medicine” for the industry, Lee told BioWorld.
Researchers from Monte Rosa Therapeutics Inc. reported preclinical efficacy data on MRT-8102, a selective NEK7 molecular glue degrader, designed to treat inflammatory diseases.
Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has divulged cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (MB21D1; cGAS) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of inflammatory, renal, psychiatric, cardiovascular, eye, respiratory and metabolic disorders, as well as cancer.
Glutathione transferase omega-1 (GSTO1-1) helps drive inflammatory disorders and cancers by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and promoting production of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1b. Numerous small molecules have been generated to inhibit the enzyme, but none has progressed to clinical trials, mostly because of off-target activity or poor pharmacokinetics.
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH has licensed an unnamed small-molecule preclinical candidate from Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. in the autoimmune disease space in a deal worth up to €640 million (US$739 million).
Celltrion Inc. announced Oct. 29 the signing of an $87.75 million joint drug R&D agreement with AI and spatial transcriptome-based biotech Portrai Inc.
For 75 years, the standard tools for autoimmune disease have consisted of steroids, cytotoxics and broad biologics that tamp down the entire immune system. They can help, but they are rarely curative. “They’re blunt instruments,” Regcell Inc. CEO Mike McCullar told BioWorld. “They can’t distinguish good immune cells and bad immune cells,” which is why many carry black-box warnings and must be taken for years, sometimes for life.
Researchers at China Pharmaceutical University and Chongqing Innovation Institute, China Pharmaceutical University have divulged ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase 7 (USP7; HAUSP) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, infections and cancer.
Researchers at Calluna Pharma AS, Agiana Pharmaceuticals AS and Roskilde University have developed the first humanized IgG4 antibody that inhibits S100A4, which is a calcium-binding protein that helps drive fibrotic inflammatory diseases.
For 75 years, the standard tools for autoimmune disease have consisted of steroids, cytotoxics and broad biologics that tamp down the entire immune system. They can help, but they are rarely curative. “They’re blunt instruments,” Regcell Inc. CEO Mike McCullar told BioWorld. “They can’t distinguish good immune cells and bad immune cells,” which is why many carry black-box warnings and must be taken for years, sometimes for life.
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